The state-appointed Climate Action Council’s (CAC) energy plan is drawing fire from representatives in St. Lawrence County for measures they say will cripple St. Lawrence County residents and undermine the North Country economy.

The New York State Farm Bureau president, David Fisher from Madrid, and State Sen. Joe Griffo, who currently represents a swath of St. Lawrence County from Russell to Massena in the 47th District, both released statements critical of the appointed Climate Action Council’s (CAC) Final “Scoping Plan.”

Griffo, on Monday, Dec. 19, reiterated calls for common-sense energy policies, following the release of the plan. This flawed energy agenda could have devastating consequences for energy consumers, the electric grid and the entire state economy, Griffo said in a prepared statement.

A draft version of the CAC’s Scoping Plan (found at https://climate.ny.gov/Our-Climate-Act/Draft-Scoping-Plan) contained efforts to eliminate reliable, affordable sources of energy, the senator said.

Natural gas hookups and services, as well as those from propane and heating oil, are vital for New Yorkers – especially in rural communities and during harsh winters – and cutting off these dependable sources of energy would be costly to residents and businesses and ineffective on a global scale, said Griffo.

Griffo said that the CAC’s blueprint included:

• No new gas service to existing buildings, beginning in 2030;

• No natural gas within newly constructed buildings, beginning in 2025;

• No new natural gas appliances for home heating, cooking, water heating, clothes drying beginning in 2035;

• No gasoline-automobile sales by 2035; and

• Installing onsite solar or joining a community renewables program by 2040.

New Yorkers initially had until June 10, 2022, to submit formal public comments on the proposed energy plan. Thousands of comments by hardworking residents and business owners were submitted in opposition to these disastrous policies and as result the submission deadline was extended to July 1, 2022, Griffo said.

In March, the Senate Republican Conference addressed the Energy Affordability Crisis and the urgent need for New Yorkers’ voices to be heard on Albany’s plans to increase energy costs in Albany. More than 18,000 public comments were submitted, said the senator.

“The Climate Action Council’s Final Scoping Plan once again shows a negative consequence of elected officials relinquishing their power by establishing nonelected boards of individuals to make major policy decisions that will affect more than 19 million New Yorkers,” Sen. Griffo said.

“This unsettling and concerning approach and plan will result in onerous burdens placed on people that will be difficult to overcome. While I appreciate and understand the need to embrace clean energy, as the former chair of the Senate’s Energy Committee, I advocated the importance of New York possessing a diversified energy portfolio. As I have said in the past, we must not put all of our eggs in one basket. We also must remain mindful of the mistakes made by other states that have moved to become too reliant on certain green energy sources and have undertaken such actions in an unrealistic and unreasonable time period and manner. Taking unilateral action - as opposed to universal action – doesn’t address or resolve energy concerns in any significant or sustainable way. Common-sense solutions and a cost-effective and pragmatic approach are needed,” said the senator.

NYFB President David Fisher, who owns a farm in Madrid, was equally critical of the plan.

He released the following statement:

“New York Farm Bureau is reviewing the Climate Action Council's plan to meet lofty goals for zero emissions in the state. At first glance, the report recognizes important strides New York's farmers and foresters have made to reduce emissions, increase efficiencies, and sequester carbon. We have long believed that agriculture is part of the solution to mitigate climate change. An incentive-based approach for farms that invests in research, new technologies, and education will be key for farmer adoption and the plan's success.

“However, major concerns remain including the push for electric, zero-emission agricultural vehicles when the technology does not exist for such equipment. The future commercial viability of the equipment must also be affordable and accessible for the state's farmers. There must also be a power grid in every region of the state that can handle the electrical demand that the Climate Action Council is seeking today. New York Farm Bureau also supports renewable natural gas and biofuels as part of any climate smart plan.

“New York Farm Bureau will examine the full impact this will have on agriculture and will continue to work with New York State to address some significant challenges in the plan to do what is best for our environment and food system.”